Toyota Camry 3.5 is an absolute leader, which can only be rivaled by another brand of car with different characteristics. Many car enthusiasts, when considering a Toyota Camry for purchase, give preference to other models, but then still return to it. We will answer the question why this happens.

The main indicator is the constantly growing demand for this car. Thus, in 2015, the Toyota Camry with a V6 engine was in greater demand than the VW Passat and Skoda Superb combined, and sales of the Nissan Teana together occupied the same level.

The V6 3.5 engine was installed in the 2008 Camry and has established itself as a guarantor of reliability.

Thanks to this, Toyota Camry has no rivals left, since the Honda Accord, Hyundai Grander and Nissan Teana disappeared from the car market.

Basic options

The Toyota Camry with a 3.5 engine has a large list of options:

• heated front window;
• electrically adjustable and heated seats;
• climate control with a third level;
• multimedia system;
• xenon headlights;
• keyless access;
• electric steering;
• curtains on glass;
• adaptive headlights;
• knee airbag;
• Hidden zone tracking system.

A few minutes in these weightless seats is enough for any car enthusiast to lose the desire to drive, even taking into account the 249 horsepower under the hood. Toyota Camry is one of the only cars that can be recommended as a corporate car. This is facilitated by a spacious interior and the provision of other features:

• adjustable and heated backrest;
• its own climate zone;
• ability to control the audio system;
• electric curtains;
• cup holders and large box.

Even the car owner of a premium German sedan cannot boast of this.

Car interior

The interior of the cabin has not changed compared to the 2015 model. Soft plastic was used to make the upper part of the dashboard and door panels to reduce noise levels.

An instrument cluster with an information screen from the bot computer appeared in front of the driver.

Cars for the Russian market were equipped by default with an indication of low washer fluid level. The steering wheel with 3 spokes and an airbag had 2 blocks of buttons to control the radio and change the readings of the on-board computer.

Car dashboard.

Entune infotainment system

Some Camry models had a radio with support for remote control using a utility installed on a smartphone.

Entune allows you to start and stop the engine when the driver is outside the vehicle, control door locks, display information about open elements on the phone screen (if there are sensors under the panels), check the remaining fuel in the tank, or search for a car in a parking lot.

Car with Entune system.

Advantages of the model

When the car runs quietly, several advantages can be identified:

• impeccable sound insulation;
• smooth ride;
• power steering at low steering angles.

On machines with units 2.5 and 3.5, inductive charging of a smartphone is available, you just need to buy a case to mount the iPhone; a stationary mount does not hold the gadget.

Also, one of the advantages of this model is its acoustic splendor, the impeccable engine keeps the revolutions below 2000, and there is complete silence in the cabin. If you squeeze the gas harder, the soft “overflow” sounding from under the hood will only be an additional accompaniment to the music already playing.

The calm blue lighting in the foot area is another attribute of the premium class representative, and the parking brake pedal indicates the release of such a model directly for US motorists.

The greatest pleasure is to slowly drive such a beauty and, when a Mercedes or BMW is nearby, press the gas pedal and leave them behind.

The automatic transmission on a car with a V6 works more smoothly, and there is a reserve that allows the transmission to switch, but you need to remember that it does not like frequent racing from traffic lights.

Toyota Camry with V6 is the fastest Toyota in Russia, accelerating to 100 km/h in 7.1.

Seventeen-inch wheels on V6 3.5 cars look very nice; there are also more sophisticated wheel options among official Toyota accessories.

Car competitors

Competition in the car market consisted of sedans:

• KIA Optima, which had a similar level of equipment at a reduced price;
• Mazda 6, equipped with economical SkyActive series engines;
• Skoda Superb, distinguished by the use of DSG gearboxes and engines with a turbine, which ensured fuel efficiency;
• Volkswagen Passat B7, built on the same platform as the Skoda Superb.

Options for possible competitors.

Security

It is very important to note that the Toyota Camry with a 3.5 V6 engine is a guarantee of safety on the highway. Sometimes during a trip unforeseen situations happen:

• driving into the oncoming lane;
• the need to change lanes in fast traffic;
• the need to speed up to change lanes;
• the need to suddenly accelerate, avoiding an accident, etc.

For a Toyota with a V6, this is not a problem, and you can always avoid danger by accelerating. It is in this harmony of comfort and dynamics that the splendor of this model lies.

When parking, you need to be careful: the Camry has large overhangs, and after restyling, a frame appeared on the bumper, which can be damaged when driving close to curbs.

It is believed that for a front-wheel drive car, power like the Camry is the maximum limit. Previously, engineers came to the conclusion that 250 hp. With. – the greatest limit, and a further increase in force will lead to slipping. Today's specialists can realize higher power - 300 hp. s., in the presence of a heavy motor. For the Toyota Camry 3.5 engine, such power will be unnecessary for now.

Exterior of Toyota Camry 2016

After restyling in 2015, the car received an updated design that combined conservative style and sporty notes. Thanks to the use of a massive front bumper and narrow lighting technology, the silhouette of the car has become more recognizable in traffic.

The glazing retained the greenish thermal insulation coating, and an additional layer appeared in the structure of the windshield, which increased acoustic comfort when driving.

Sports Toyota Camry 2021.

Body

The all-metal body with 4 hinged doors is equipped with plastic bumpers that can withstand collisions with stationary objects when driving at speeds of up to 5 km/h.

Headlights with lenses and incandescent lamps or gas-discharge light sources provided improved illumination of the road surface (the manufacturer refused to introduce LED optics).

At the rear, narrow lights are preserved, connected by a narrow chrome trim mounted on the luggage compartment lid.

Main technical parameters

To find out how many horses a car has, let’s look at the technical characteristics of the Camry 3.5:

Car owners who want to pass off their Camry with a 2.5 liter engine as a Toyota Camry with a 3.5 engine install a second exhaust pipe, but in winter the absence of smoke from it betrays the deception.

Options and prices

Camry sedans in 2021 were produced by the plant in 9 modifications, differing in engine size and list of options:

1. Standard with halogen head lighting and alloy wheels with 205/60R16 tires. Only a 150-horsepower engine was available for the car. The model can be distinguished by the rim of the steering wheel with blocks of radio control buttons, made of polyurethane (the cover of the gearbox control handle was made of artificial leather by default). The multimedia center had a monochrome display, and parking sensors in the bumpers were included in the list of standard equipment.
2. Standard Plus with a leather-wrapped steering wheel rim and additional options that increased driving safety (for example, a rain sensor, cruise control, rear view camera, auto-dimming mirror). The radio had a 6.5″ color touch screen and could play music from CDs or equipment connected to the Aux or USB ports.
3. Classic with leather interior and electrically adjustable front seats, increasing the comfort of the driver and passenger. The Standard Plus and Classic modifications were supplied only with a 2.0-liter engine; by default, they were equipped with fog lights in the front bumper, an on-board computer and a manually adjustable steering column in 2 directions.
4. Comfort with a 181-horsepower 2.5-liter engine. Headlight and fabric upholstery washers were used (the front seats were adjusted manually). There was a wireless charger for phones.
5. Elegance with leather upholstered chairs. Electric adjustments were used at the front. A small-sized air ionizer was installed in the ventilation duct.
6. Elegance Plus, equipped with headlights with gas-discharge lamps filled with xenon. Stepped heating of the rear seat cushions was provided (the front seats, starting with the Standard model, had heating filaments), and the Smart Entry system was used to control the alarm system (a button appeared instead of the ignition switch). Starting with Elegance Plus, wheels with tires measuring 215/55R17 were installed.
7. Prestige, which was the last with a 2.5-liter engine and differed from its predecessors in the electric adjustment of the rear row of seats and a 3-zone climate control system (the remaining models used a 2-zone system). An improved rear view camera appeared, and in the cabin there was an additional climate control and radio control panel (it was located in the rear).
8. Elegance Drive with a 249-horsepower engine. In terms of configuration, it corresponded to the Elegance Plus, but the instrument panel, center console and door panels used plastic trim with a coating that imitates wood.
9. Luxe, equipped with an adaptive lighting system, additional airbags, a steering column and an electrically adjustable rear seat. The windshield was electrically heated, and the bumper had blind spot monitoring sensors (with warning indications on the rearview mirror reflectors).

During the production process of the 2021 model year car, the factory-recommended price (when the body is painted white) was revised several times due to the fall in the ruble exchange rate.

When ordering cars painted with materials with metallic or mother-of-pearl effects, an additional payment of 14 and 21 thousand rubles was charged. respectively.

A total of 6 monotonous color options were available (data are shown in the table).

Camry tuning options

Car owners modify the appearance by installing plastic body kit elements and alloy wheels with a radius of up to R18. Chrome trims are glued to the external parts of the body (for example, to a decorative radiator grille). To improve technical characteristics, an upgraded engine control program is installed, increasing power by 10-15%. At the same time, it is practiced to equip it with an exhaust gas exhaust system with 2 pipes, symmetrically located under the lower edge of the bumper.

Pros and cons of cars

The advantages of the car noted in the reviews:

• engine and transmission reliability;
• simple maintenance;
• increased demand in the secondary market;
• cabin capacity;
• a large number of modifications.

Disadvantages of Toyota Camry XV55:

• a large number of small defects;
• soft metal that deforms under random impacts;
• low quality finishing materials;
• a thin layer of paintwork.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of cars noted in reviews:

• increased reliability;
• large volume of luggage compartment;
• periodic use of A-92 grade gasoline;
• comfortable driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support.

Disadvantages of technology:

• weak paintwork and uneven galvanization of the body;
• possible appearance of rust spots under the trunk lid seal;
• high level of aerodynamic noise after 120 km/h (the defect is partially corrected by additional insulation);
• mediocre handling when driving at high speed.

Description of the Toyota Camry exterior

The XV55 sedan retained the outlines and dimensions of the body of its predecessor. Modified plastic bumpers made the car's silhouette "sporty", but the soft multi-link suspension is not designed for high-speed maneuvering. At the front there is a narrow radiator grille. An additional air intake is located in the central part of the bumper. On either side of the air duct are round fog lights. Daytime running lights appeared in the head optics, covered with a plastic fairing.

The doorways and glazing remain unchanged, the handles and mirror housings are painted in body color. At the rear, split optics are used; the internal sections of the lights fold down along with the luggage compartment lid. Above the registration plate area there is a chrome plate into which the Toyota logo is integrated.

The plastic shell of the bumper has a different configuration; there is a lower diffuser and red linings that reflect light.

Owner reviews

Kirill, 43 years old, St. Petersburg

I purchased a used XV55 generation car in 2021 (3.5 liter engine). The previous owner drove 50 thousand km. After the purchase, I changed the technological fluids and installed tires with a lower profile, which increased stability at speeds of more than 150 km/h. I did not carry out additional soundproofing of the interior; there are no creaks in the panels. The disadvantage is increased fuel consumption in the city (up to 15 liters per 100 km), but the power reserve allows you to quickly overtake on the highway in the speed range of 100-170 km/h.

Konstantin, 38 years old, Moscow

I bought a Toyota Camry immediately after the new model came out. I liked the car based on the photos published in various magazines and video materials. The car was used for 3 years (drove 78 thousand km). Constantly visited the official dealer for minor repairs. The interior finishing materials have low strength, creases on the seat trims appeared after 5-7 thousand km of travel, the steering wheel rim became shiny after a year. The paintwork is thin, damaged by stones and branches of bushes, and pockets of corrosion form at the chipped areas.